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How does your work at Uptown Stories relate to (or diverge from!) your studies at Bennington?

At first glance, the work I do might not seem directly connected to my primary concentration in Biology. Since is an arts-based organization, much of what I do falls within the literary field: I’ve helped format both digital and print manuscripts for , and assisted in translating materials like workshop registration forms from English into Spanish.

However, the bulk of my grant writing work as a Development Assistant does indeed tie into my current scientific interests. A majority of scientific research—such as that done in organismal biology and ecology—relies on external funding, whether from private foundations or government agencies, and the ability to write compelling grant proposals that stand out above the fierce competition is vital and valuable. Developing these skills now is excellent preparation for the realities of a research career, where securing funding is often a necessary part of continuing meaningful work, especially so now with some of the recent government changes sparking uncertainty in how these funds may be secured in the future. One of Uptown Stories’ core values is that “writing is an essential tool for success,” a belief I myself strongly stand by, and am happy to keep supporting throughout my work at the organization. 

Since 2022, when Andrea first joined Uptown Stories as an intern, I realized she was special. While most people are intimidated by development work, Andrea's focus, attention to detail, and creativity made her an exceptional grant writer. As an accomplished artist, she's also helped out our publishing department, designing the cover for one of our books and laying out the interior for another. We liked her so much, we hired her as a part-time employee, and now she's an important part of our team. We're grateful for everything Andrea brings to Uptown Stories.

- Kate Reuther, Uptown Stories Executive Director

How did you initially connect with Uptown Stories for a Field Work Term position, and how have you found the transition from intern to staffer?

I encountered the initial listing for Education & Writing Intern on Handshake during my first term at Bennington, in late fall of 2022, while I was seeking out opportunities for my very first Field Work Term. I was drawn to this organization’s entire motivation for operating: their belief that writing is an essential, powerful tool in our changing world, more important now than ever before. Their structured creative writing workshops—made unique by the anthologies published at the end of every semester—are exactly the kind of opportunity my younger self would have cherished, had she had access to something like this. Thus, I leapt at the chance to work in this kind of environment seeking to support and nurture the creative spirit of young students. Uptown Stories’ Deputy Director, Dorkys Ramos, reached out to me after taking interest in my application, inviting me to set up a remote interview to further assess my fit for the position. I was absolutely overjoyed to receive an email a short time after my initial interview, with a full offer to join the winter intern cohort, which I accepted. After completing my Field Work Term with them, I received another email halfway through my Spring 2023 term, with another offer to return for the summer—a paid position. 

The initial shift was a bit surprising, as development lies in a different department than the publishing work I had previously done as an intern, although I was determined and prepared to become familiar with my new duties so I could perform them to the best of my ability. While the transition from intern to staff member comes with a lot of responsibility, seeing the friendly faces of this diligent and dedicated team welcome me back filled me with motivation to continue onward. Knowing they valued my work ethic and swift learning abilities, and seeing how our small-but-mighty organization has made measurable impacts on the youth of Upper Manhattan, I knew I was now in the right place to make a difference and fully deserving of my place on the staff.

What surprises or challenges you the most about your work?

Although grant writing and research did seem a bit daunting at first, I was surprised by how quickly I was able to pick it up, along with learning the broader responsibilities of working in the Development department. While the process can seem intimidating—especially when dealing with the number-crunching of budgets and statistics, and with the occasional nerve-wracking interview or phone call—I was surprised to learn that a lot of grant writing work shares many similarities with academic and personal essay writing, which I’m already familiar with. 

In the same way you must defend your stance in an argumentative essay, or vouch for yourself as the best candidate in a scholarship essay or professional cover letter, writing a grant proposal requires clarity, confidence, and the ability to make a persuasive case in order to win over a grantor’s support. Once I recognized that overlap, I realized I was more prepared for this work than I’d expected, and I’ve adjusted comfortably to this new type of writing. 

And while it isn’t always easy to take the leap in introducing ourselves to potential funders, or cast our humble application out into the wild with several others that are equally worthy, the reward can be much greater than the risk, proven by some of our most astounding successes. Some of these I’ve personally helped contribute to include grant awards from , , and —as well as more—all providing crucial financial assistance to various areas of Uptown Stories, allowing our organization to continue operating and providing these opportunities for youth to truly discover the joys of writing.

What do you hope to do after Bennington?

I can’t say I’m entirely certain yet, as there are myriad paths I could go down, and I still need to assess what would be the best trajectory for me, but I do know that I would still like to continue working for Uptown Stories even past graduation, as I have come to love the work I do for them. Becoming part of their staff and working alongside them throughout my years as a Bennington student has been incredibly rewarding and fulfilling to me, and I'd be happy to continue working with them for the foreseeable future. I am incredibly lucky to have had support in the form of community resources and encouraging mentors throughout my life, helping me arrive to the place I am in life now, and I think it’s only fair to try and pay this forward.

Interested in supporting Uptown Stories' work? Dive down the rabbit hole with Uptown Stories' Alice in Wonderland-themed Tea Party on May 18 at The Cornerstone Center in New York City.